Paul Saastad
1939 ~ 2025
Captain Paul D. Saastad, age 85, died January 16, 2025, of natural causes near his home at Port Townsend, WA. Paul grew up in Earl, Wisconsin (near Spooner), raised by his mother. He was the youngest of four siblings. In addition to raising four children, Paul’s mother worked full-time at the town general store in Earl, WI.
Paul was a good academic student and athlete at his high school. In addition to playing football and baseball on the school team, Paul served as the milk man for the small town of Earl. In these years daily milk orders were delivered to the customer’s doorsteps.
After high school Paul attended Western Technical College in LaCross, WI. At the time two years of college were considered minimal to enter the military flight training programs. Having two years of college under his belt, Paul underwent extensive military testing and physical exams, Paul was deemed eligible for Air Force Aviation Cadet pilot training.
James T. Hancock
1945 ~ 2025
Captain James T. (Jim) Hancock, age 79, passed away on May 17th after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Jim was born at Bremerton, WA to Ralph and Marie (Thorson) Hancock on June 7, 1945. His father, Ralph, was a butcher who owned a small grocery store that provided meat refrigeration unit rentals. Jim had one sibling, a half-brother named Alan, who died later in life.
Jim attended public schools in Bremerton, where he was a good student and particularly enjoyed baseball, excelling as a catcher. He was also active in Boy Scouts and boating activities. His passion for flying began with flying lessons after graduating from high school.
Shirley Stone
1932 ~ 2025 
F/A Shirley R. (Anderson) Stone, age 93, passed away on April 26, 2025. Shirley began her career as a NWA Flight Attendant in the early 1960s. In the later 1960s Shirley married Captain Robert O. Stone (deceased), who flew for NWA for 38 years, retiring as a 747 captain in 1983.
Both spent most of the careers based in MSP.
After Bob’s passing Shirley remained an active RNPA membership. She is “survived by her step-son Richard Stone, his wife, and their two sons.”
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Day
Robert L. Immel
1934 ~ 2023
Captain, Robert L. Immel, age 89, passed away October 18, 2023. He was born 03 January 1934 in Carthage, IL to Albert and Florence Immel. Our father had one sibling, an older sister Joan Immel. Dad loved growing up in his small town and continued to visit his childhood home throughout his life.
Dad was educated in Carthage, IL, graduating from high school in 1951. He was active in sports, playing football his freshman through his senior years, track also his freshman through senior years, and basketball in his sophomore and junior years.
He was class Treasurer in his junior year and class Secretary in his senior year of high school. He was also very musical, playing the piano throughout his life. In high school Dad played the clarinet and oboe. He also participated in Boys Chorus in his freshman through his senior years, as well as Ensemble, Quartet, Mixed Chorus, and Minstrel.
Maureen Burns
Wife of NWA Captain Bob Burns
1937 ~ 2025
Maureen Burns, age 88 years, loving mother and wife, devout Catholic with a radiant soul, died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. Maureen lived a life that touched many with her unwavering devotion to faith, family, and friends.
She was born in Evanston IL, the only daughter of John and Catherine Neenan Barrett. She attended Marywood High School in Evanston before graduating from Barry College in Miami, Florida. Her life was forever changed when she met her beloved husband, Robert Burns, on a blind date. They were married on September 10, 1960, and shared a remarkable 65-year relationship.
Maureen and Bob eventually settled on Lake Minnetonka near Excelsior, Minnesota where they raised 4 children: Sheila, Kevin, Patrica and Kathleen and entertained 5 grandchildren.
Robert Napoleon Burns
1932-2025
Captain Robert (Bob) Burns, age 92 years, proud father and devoted husband, died peacefully on May 19, nine days after his wife of 65 years, Maureen.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest son of Richard and Agnes Picard Burns. He attended Marmion Military Academy High School in Aurora, before graduating from The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. After college, Bob channeled his passion for aviation by joining the United States Air Force where he finished in the top of his class. Bob attributed the Air Force for cultivating discipline, leadership, and a sense of duty that guided him throughout his life. Following his military service, Bob attended law school at DePaul University in Chicago before pursuing a career as an airline pilot with Northwest Orient Airlines.
Richard Emery Jacobs
1937 ~ 2025
Captain Richard ‘Dick’ Jacobs, age 87, of Spring Valley, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health in Eau Claire. Dick was born in Lakeside Township, Minnesota to Alden and Belle (Headley) Jacobs on October 31, 1937.
He graduated from Brainerd High School in 1955. Dick joined the Naval Air Reserve in January of that same year. He attended Brainerd Junior College from 1956 until 1958. After that he went to the Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, graduating in October of 1960. He was commissioned awarded his wings of Gold in the U.S. Marine Corps.
His initial post training assignment was to VMA-211 at El Toro Air Station flying the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. He was based at El Toro Air Station from 1960 to 1963. In late 1963 Dick was reassigned to Whiting Field in Milton, Florida as a flight instructor.
On October 16, 1965, Richard Jacobs married Ann Goedert in a military wedding in Jacksonville, Florida. His next assignment was with VMA-332 in Beaufort, South Carolina where his first child, Fred, was born in 1966. Shortly thereafter Dick deployed to Chy Lai, Viet Nam with VMA-311. At one point, in March of 1967, he was assigned as forward air controller. In 1968, now Major Richard Jacobs was released from USMC active duty allowing him to pursue airline employment.
Gerald Andrew Krisik
1934 ~ 2025
Captain Gerald “Jerry” Andrew Krisik, age 90, died at his home on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Jerry was born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin on September 25, 1934. Jerry grew up on a dairy farm near Tony, Wisconsin, one of nine children. Jerry overcame childhood polio and always gave much credit to his father who took him to the Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis for treatment.
Jerry graduated from Glen Flora High School. His life story took a dramatic turn when he received his first airplane ride from his best friend, Tuffy Howard, in 1954. that 15-minute flight began a lifelong love of flying. The following summer, he used every dollar he saved and bought his first airplane, a used 1949 Taylorcraft BC-12 for $575. He didn’t know how to fly the plane and knew nothing about planes. He was late to milking that evening which angered his dad. Needless to say, his parents thought he was crazy when he told them he was late because he just bought an airplane! He soon earned his pilot’s license from instructor Elmer Wisherd. Later that year, Jerry worked as a crane operator for a logging operation on Outer Island on Lake Superior and would fly home from the island once a month - in his plane.
Janet L. Rogge, MD
1949 ~ 2025
Janet Louise Rogge, 75, of Seattle, Washington, died March 22, 2025, after a long illness. Janet was born on April 25, 1949, to Dr. Edgar and Celeste Rogge in Seattle. She grew up in the Laurelhurst neighborhood.
Her early education was at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. She then graduated from the University of Washington, attended George Washington University Medical School for two years and transferred to the University of Washington Medical School from which she graduated in 1974. Janet then completed a residency in dermatology from 1974-1978 at Oregon Health Science University. She was in practice as a private dermatologist in downtown Seattle for many years.
Janet possessed a charming and warm personality along with a playful and positive sense of humor. She found great joy in her many friendships and relished her travel adventures whether visiting Africa, mule riding in the Grand Canyon or white water rafting in Montana. Janet loved music, dancing to her vintage jukebox and being a member of the Magnolia Chorale for eight years. She was also an avid gardener and enthusiastic book club member.
Douglas Howard Parrott
1926 ~ 2025
Captain Douglas Howard Parrott, age 99, has slipped the surly bonds of the earth . . . . and touched the face of god. He passed away in his sleep at Roundup Memorial Healthcare.
Doug was born January 29, 1926 in Spokane, Washington. He grew up playing football, basketball and going to school. He got his love of aviation from his cousin Hank Troh who showed up one day in his airplane called The Bird.
Doug joined the navy after high school. World War II was in full swing and he was able to get into the flying cadets program. His training took a few years and he finally qualified in the TBM Avenger. He was stationed in Panama tasked with keeping the canal open for shipping.
After the war Doug went in partners on a crop dusting venture out of La Grande, Oregon. There he met Shirley at a New Years Eve dance in 1950. They were married 74 years.
Dean L. Monteith
1941 ~ 2024
Captain Dean Loftin Monteith, age 83, passed away on December 5, 2024, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
Dean was born January 8, 1941, in Cando, North Dakota, to Roland and Lucille Monteith. Cando is near Devils Lake, ND. The Monteith family was blessed with four offspring; Dean was number three. His father Roland owned a light aircraft that he used primarily for fox hunting. The aviation bug bit Dean at 6 years old when he had his 1st airplane ride.
Dean graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1959 and went to North Dakota State University at Fargo, ND. Dean was a diligent and hardworking fellow which led him to ‘work his way through college.’ When asked about ‘his college major,’ Dean liked to respond, “Anything to Pass.” While at NDSU Dean completed the Air Force ROTC program earning him a commission in the United States Air Force.
Larry D. Patrick
1945 ~ 2024
Captain Larry Dale Patrick, age 79, was born on July 22, 1945, in Havre, Montana to Ardys Virginia Irene (Olson) Patrick and Russell Gale Patrick. He was the second of three sons (Charles was born in 1942 and Warren was born in 1955). Larry lived and worked on the family farm twenty miles north of Rudyard, MT. In his early years, Larry attended a one-room schoolhouse with his brother Chuck, several cousins and neighboring farm children. He attended the upper grades in Rudyard where the family purchased a “winter” home in town for schooling purposes. His father died unexpectedly at the age of 49 during the summer that Larry turned 16.
Larry graduated from Rudyard High School in 1963 and thereafter attended Northern Montana College in Havre, Great Falls College (MSU), Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, and Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. After college he enrolled in Herrod School of Aviation in Billings, MT, which was a six-month flying school that took students from not flying at all through their FAA Commercial and Instrument ratings.
David G. Hill
1937 ~ 2023
David Gardner Hill, 87, of Kaneohe, Hawaii, passed away peacefully in Honolulu. Born in Framingham, Massachusetts, David was a man of many passions and accomplishments.
A retired Navy veteran, David served his country with honor and distinction. His love for the skies didn’t stop there. After his service, he continued his career as a pilot for Northwest Airlines, mastering the art of flying, a skill he was immensely proud of.
David was a loving husband to Taiko Hill for 39 years. Their bond was one of mutual respect and deep affection, a testament to their enduring love.
A father to James (Andrea) Hill, Mark Hill, Sarie (Philip) Harris, Mari Hill, Amy (Nicholas) Olds, and a doting grandfather to four grandchildren, David’s family was his pride and joy. His love for them was evident in every interaction, every shared moment.
David was a man of intellect and curiosity. He loved puzzles and reading, always seeking to learn more about the world around him. His interests were vast and varied, from astronomy to architecture, reflecting his multifaceted personality.
Known for his kindness, humor, and intelligence, David was a beacon of light to those who knew him. His love for music filled their home with melodies, and his witty humor brought laughter and joy.
David was a “jack of all trades, master of one, flying”. His passion for flying was not just a career, but a calling. It was a part of who he was, a symbol of his limitless spirit and his constant pursuit of freedom.
David leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and learning. His memory will continue to inspire and guide us. He will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
His journey has been a flight well flown.
(~ Bob Gould)
Terry Juliar
1938 ~ 2024
Captain Terry Arden Juliar, age 86, of Minnetrista, MN was born July 4, 1938, at St. Clair, MN. Terry was the youngest child of Ralph and Rosalia Juliar of St. Clair where he lived and worked the life of a southern Minnesota 'farm kid.' Despite winning a few 4H ribbons for his Black Angus cattle, he determined by high school that farm life was not for him. Seeds were sewn in the attic of that farmhouse where he spent hours building model airplanes and dreaming of life in the clouds.
At the young age of 15, Terry met the love of his life, Nadine Buckhaus at a Youth Fellowship event at church, and within a few weeks of their high school graduation they were married in Mankato, MN. Shortly thereafter they headed west to Los Angeles, California, riding in an unreliable hotrod loaded with a few suitcases, a box of tools, and big dreams.
Terry attended the Northrop Aviation Institute, now Northrop University, at Inglewood, California. A couple of productive years later, Terry and Nadine returned to Minnesota with a freshly acquired FAA Aircraft & Powerplant Mechanics license in hand. Terry had acquired many certifiable aviation skills and was ready for a career in the golden era of aviation. What followed was an improbable path.
Leland K. Ozawa
1943 ~ 2024
Captain Leland K. Ozawa, age 80, died on September 21, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada of pneumonia. He was born on December 16, 1943 at Queens’s Hospital, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to parents Walter Minoru Ozawa and Catherine Keonaona Sims.
‘Lee’ was the second of four siblings, there was an older brother and a younger brother and sister. His father was a GP medical doctor, and his mother Catherine was a nurse. These parents discerned that Lee needed direction and discipline, upon reaching high school age he was enrolled in Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Virginia, graduating with the class of 1961. After high school Lee enlisted in the Marine Corps and served a single term enlistment.
Briefly after the USMC Lee studied at the University of Utah. Sometime around this era he began general aviation pilot instruction at airports near Salt Lake City. The bulk of his ratings and initial flight time were acquired in or near Salt Lake City. Thereafter, the quest for airline employment began.
James D. Houdek
1938 ~ 2024
Captain James Houdek, age 85, of Spring Valley, Wisconsin, passed away at his home, surrounded by family, on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Amazingly, September 18th is the Feast Day for the patron saint of aviators and pilots, Saint Joseph of Cupertino.
James Dean Houdek was born December 19, 1938, to James C. and Marie ‘Mae’ Sedlak Houdek in Crete, Nebraska. He was one of four children, the third child. ‘Jim’ grew up farming with his family in rural southeast Nebraska. During his senior year he moved to Columbus, Nebraska. He graduated from Columbus High School with the Class of 1956. Farm life in rural Nebraska demanded a strong work ethic and attention to task. Jim met those standards. After high school Jim became a welder. Driving home one night after a long cold day on the job, Jim saw a billboard touting “Air Force, a great way of life.” It was then he decided to join the USAF and learn to fly.
Norman R. Anderson
1933 ~ 2024
Captain Norman ‘Andy’ Anderson, age 91, died on September 20, 2024, from the effects of Parkinson’s and associated infections. He was born to Anthony and Miriam Miles Anderson at Lawrence Park, PA on August 21, 1933. Andy was the youngest of 3 sons, his older brothers were Tony and Harold.
Andy’s father, Anthony Anderson, had retired from the US Army. His service included duty as a drummer in the Army Band and service during WW 1. His post-retirement employment was with General Electric. Andy’s mother Miriam, was an elementary school teacher.
The family abode was in Lawrence Park, PA just east of Erie, PA. No doubt Andy could recall many brutal winters and yet in the summer months he often swam in Lake Erie. As a youngster, each summer Andy could be found on the public ball fields playing baseball with his pals. While in high school Andy distinguished himself as an athlete. He played the position of end on the football team. He most distinguished himself as a star basketball player, earning himself a full basketball scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh.
David R. Wooden
1932 ~ 2024
Captain David R. Wooden, age 91, died July 22, 2024 at Grand Itasca Clinic in Minnesota after an auto accident that occurred the afternoon of July 18, 2024.
Dave was born on November 26, 1932, at Riverside, IL to Richard and Susan (McLaughlin) Wooden. He was a good student with a bent toward technology and science. After high school he attended college in his home state - Illinois. In late 1952 & early 1953 the United States was deeply engrossed in the Korean War. It was no surprise that his local Draft Board sent Dave a notice of inquiry preceding induction into the Army. Dave opted to enlist in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet rather than face induction into the Army as a draftee.
Joseph B. Heye
1939 ~ 2024
Captain Joseph B. Heye, age 85, passed away peacefully at his home in Olympia on Thursday, July 25th with family by his side. Joe was humble, kind, and a devout Catholic, attending St. Mary's Catholic Church in South Tacoma. He was born in Olympia on Feb 9th, 1939, the son of Adolph and Agnes Heye - Joe had three younger siblings.
Joe attended grade school at St. Michael's Catholic School and for high school, went on to attend St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore, WA with the intention of possibly joining the priesthood. He continued in the seminary until he completed a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. He decided not to go into the priesthood and left the seminary in 1961. At that time, the conflict in Vietnam was escalating with the beginning of the Army draft.
Hans Abrahamsen
1927 ~ 2024
Captain Hans J. Abrahamsen, age 96, of Inver Grove Heights, passed away peacefully at home on May 12, 2024. He was born September15, 1927 and grew up on a dairy farm in Askov, MN.
His boyhood dream was to be a pilot. After serving in the Army, graduating from Macalester College and then serving in the Air Force, he achieved his goal of becoming a commercial airline pilot for Northwest Airlines.
Midway through his flying career he bought a farm near Coates, MN and found great satisfaction in running a farm. He retired from flying at age 57 but continued to actively farm until age 78. He was still cutting his lawn with his John Deere mower at age 95.
In 1956 he married Phyllis Bailey. Together they had two daughters, Karen and Susan. Becoming a father was one of the greatest moments of his life. He found much joy in spending time with his young daughters and later his grandchildren.
Hans is preceded in death by his parents Hans and Carrie, all eight of his siblings, Jens, Karl, Magdeline, Lillian, Mildred, Ina, Eldon, Nettie and his beloved dog Freckles. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Phyllis, daughters Karen (Logan) and Susan, grandchildren Nick (Alex), Sammi (Joey), Jacob, Josh (Jordan), Marissa (Jonathan) and great grandchildren Noelle, Hannah, Lilly, Luke, Isaac, Micah.
( ~ Abrahamsen family)
Karl Marvin Kunz
1936 ~ 2024
Captain Karl Marvin Kunz, age 87, of Hudson, Wisconsin, passed away on February 20, 2024, at Hudson Hospital in Hudson, Wisconsin. Karl was born on April 29, 1936, to parent's Alfred and Mary (Jensen) Kunz in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Young Karl grew up in Western Wisconsin, attending high school in Menomonie. He was smitten by the aviation bug as a teenager and delved deep into classifications and specifics of aircraft so abundant in the post WWII era.
Concurrently Karl met his future wife in high school and neither one dated anyone else. Karl and Virginia (Thibado) were united in marriage on August 26, 1954, in Downsville, Wisconsin. Together they raised two children.
It was no surprise to family and friends that Karl opted to acquire a FAA Mechanic A&P license in St. Paul, MN, given his intense interest in aviation. Karl began his Northwest Airlines career as a mechanic at St. Paul Airport on May 06, 1959. As the transition to jet aircraft arrived at NWA there also arrived a short-lived opportunity for Karl to qualify as an airline pilot. Karl grasped that opportunity and obtained the necessary FAA pilot ratings to qualify him for future pilot employment.
William Russell Smith
1942 ~ 2024
Captain William Russell Smith, age 81, of Osceola, Missouri passed away on May 18, 2024 at Truman Manor Nursing Home. Known to his friends as Russ, he was born in Los Angeles, CA on October 23, 1942 to Ethel and Bunyon Smith.
Russ was an energetic and industrious child starting his working career at the age of nine. Each morning at 0400, he and his beloved dog Princess would get up, roll and deliver newspapers on his bike and then go on to school. He did this through his early teens. Russ had other jobs that contributed to his character and work ethics; selling papers at the Rose Bowl, working at a hula hoop manufacture, pumping gas, and raising rabbits that he sold to the local market.
After graduating from Temple City High School, Russ enlisted for four years in the US Air Force. His military specialty was as a Security Specialist. This duty took him to stations in Alaska, Spain, and Kansas. While in the Air Force Russ discovered general aviation through the military aeroclubs. In time he acquired a FAA Commercial license with a Certified Flight Instructor rating. He thereafter built flight time working as a CFI.
Stuart Thomas Ecker
1942 ~ 2024
Captain Stuart Thomas Ecker, age 81, a cherished resident of Wickenburg, Arizona, died in a tragic road accident on July 9th, 2024 near Bozeman, Montana. Born on July 10, 1942, in Canton, Ohio to parents Edgar Norris Ecker and Sue (Thomas) Ecker. There was one sibling, his brother Robert Norris Ecker.
Stu attended high school in Canton, Ohio where he was regarded as a good student and athlete. After high school Stu migrated to Arizona where he earned BS and MS degrees in Engineering at the University of Arizona. Along the way he was smitten with the aviation bug. Stu acquired the entry level FAA ratings and began to build flight time in the extensive general aviation community found in Arizona.
When his ratings and flight time permitted, he applied for employment with major airlines and was granted an interview with Northwest Airlines. Stuart Ecker began his long-time employment with Northwest Airlines on February 27, 1967. Arizona to Minnesota in February must have been a physical shock!
Bruce Robert Olson
1941 ~ 2024
Captain Bruce Olson, age 82, of St. Pete Beach, FL, passed away peacefully, January 24, 2024. He was born on April 03, 1941 to Robert and Eve (Johnson) in Minneapolis, MN.
Bruce attended Gustavus Adolphus College and had a 30 plus year career as a pilot for Northwest Airlines where he was proud to be an early Captain of the Boeing 757. He loved watching sports, especially football, hockey and golf. His day wasn't complete until he finished the crossword from the paper. Bruce enjoyed taking care of the neighbors' condos and cars when they were away to make sure they were ready for them when they returned.
The neighbors of Bruce in Florida submit numerous reports on his generosity and kindness. Comments such as, “I will always remember what a wonderful man he was” abound when his name is mentioned.”
Bruce is survived by two sons, Chris (Karin) of Minneapolis, MN and Matt of Hilo, HI; two granddaughters, Annika and Greta; two brothers, Willy and Larry; and former wife, Karyl. He is preceded in death by wife, Gayle; sister, Kathy; and granddaughter Amanda.
(~ Olson Family)